price：$53.06
Panasonic
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great) 『Nice style&runs great. No problems. Heats/cooks quickly and looks good in my kitchen. I love the spin knob.』
(This is one COOL Microwave!) 『Was looking to replace an old G.E. microwave with something more powerful&modern, this style from Panasonic fit the bill. I love the features this microwave comes with, and it's a very efficent microwave, sleek in look, powerful in it's cooking power, and does the job very nicely.
In my opinion, the folks who engineered this microwave knew just what they were doing, the auto-sensing feature has worked flawlessly everytime I've used it, cooking leftovers perfectly! (not too hot, not too cool) and I love the pop-out adjustable flywheel control.
Dang! this thing is even smart enough (when the clock is set) to tell you to enjoy your breakfast, lunch or dinner (neat little tactile feedback in the display)
If you are looking for a very nice microwave oven which is powerful and has some neat features - and this fits your sizing requirements, I would highly recommend it.
』
(Panasonic NN-SD767S 1.6 cubic foot) 『Just recieved our Panasonic microwave oven yesterday. Although the photo looks good, it looks far better in person. Very easy to use, especially with the well-written instructions. The stainless steel exterior matches well with the other stainless appliances we own (it sits right next to our stainless steel ThermalFresh Bunn coffee maker). Ordering through Amazon is always made easy, that's a definate plus! I recommend this oven highly!』
(Solid product for the price) 『Sensor reheat on this bad boy rocks! Looks nice, works nice. Pair it up with the Panasonic TK-729SAPH Stainless Steel Trim Kit (27" width) for all 1.6 cuft Panasonic Stainless Steel Microwave models to get the built in look for half the price of a standard built in microwave!』
(Panasonic NN-SD767S microwave oven) 『Good delivery time and oven works great. Other than a slight ding in the front cover (lazy factory worker could have spotted this), I'd recommend.』 『Redefine microwave cooking with the NN-SD767S. Inverter Technology teams up with 18 Sensor Cook modes to assure that each dish you place in this countertop microwave's 1.6 cu. ft., 1250W interior is evenly and quickly cooked and reheated. A Popcorn mode assures the perfect pop, while a Keep Warm mode keeps dishes hot and ready to eat while the rest of the meal cooks.』
price：$70.01
Sanyo
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Why do they need to put lead in the cord? otherwise great so far) 『We've owned this device for about a week now (purchased for $99 on Amazon after considering Zojirushi, other Sanyo models, and a few Aroma models both in-store and online -- definitely expensive, but speedy shipping and perfect condition out of the box), and used it to cook white rice almost daily, with and without the timer. It's been great, aside from the fact that the cord apparently contains lead, which consumers are warned about on the first page of the manual. It's fine; just wash your hands after handling. But as another reviewer stated, we felt lead was an unnecessary component to include in the cord and therefore give a rating of 4 stars.
2 cups (uncooked) rice on quick steam cooked in about 30ish minutes, and both times we used the timer (also for 2 cups uncooked) completed before the set time, but this was OK bc rice should be allowed to sit in the cooker a bit on warm to completely finish cooking, and anyway the warm function kept the rice, well, warm, and didn't compromise the quality. The rice at the bottom did discolor a little bit from sitting on warm for a while (maybe about an hour after finished cook time), but this is inevitable with every rice cooker and we expected it. Give your rice a gentle stir every so often to prevent unwanted browning.
The steam vent functions well -- no overbubbling whatsoever. The inner lid is removable for easy cleaning, and any dripping condensation is caught in a little trough around the rim of the rice cooker that is likewise easy to clean. Best design for catching condensation I've seen yet (I've had old rice cookers w/o any way to catch liquid to those w/ little removable cups -- blegh. Doesn't even compare.). Digital display easy to understand and use. Titanium pot very thick, sturdy, with rounded bottom and water level indicators for white, brown, and sweet rice. Incredibly easy to clean.
We also steamed some baby carrots in the steamer (included, along w/ measuring cup and textured plastic rice paddle), which worked out fine, and look forward to testing the soup/slow-cooker functions soon. Really hope this stands up to long-term use, given its price!』
(Love it!) 『We purchased this product approximately one year ago and use it regularly. We have never been disappointed with the way the rice has been cooked. We generally stick with brown basmati or wild rice, so I can't speak for other varieties, but we are always pleased. We also use the product as a slow cooker quite often. We can make a wonderful pot roast, any variety of soup, and amazing chili with this cooker. We tend to make large batches and use throughout the week. I highly recommend this product for families and singles alike...there are only two of us in this house and we wouldn't dream of getting anything smaller! The non-stick pot has held up beautifully (we are very careful), and I can't think of a single complaint. Happy cooking!』
(Great Product) 『This is the first steamer that I have owned and it is great. It is easy to use and clean.』
(Just purchased a second one for ...) 『First of all, even though the title of the review says this is our second Sanyo D100S, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong w/ the first one bought from Amazon 2 1/2 years ago. To the contrary, it's still like new and performing as well as the day we got it.
Rather than go over the features and details as explained in other reviews, I'd like to point out a couple of the secondary features which we find extremely useful, especially the slow-cook setting. We enjoy making meals such as Kitchens of India Chicken Curry and others of their products which go well w/ rice. Simply set the timer for 1, 2, 3 or more hours (in this case one hour), place the ingredients in the bowl and voila, in an hour it's done to perfection. It may take some intermediate stirring, depending on the dish. Also a warning - be careful when opening the lid to check cooking progress as a cloud of scalding steam can give you quite a surprise. Trust me, I learned the hard way !
Btw, don't mistake this for a crockpot or the slow cooker you're used to as it aeems to get up to a high temperature much quicker, thus less time is needed overall. It also does a great job of reheating leftover rice or whatever else you have in the fridge.
Why did we get a second one? Since you can't make rice and cook the curry sauce or other dishes at the same time, we bought a second one in order that both menu items are done at the same time. Do we work for Sanyo? No, we just like to give credit to a wonderful product where credit is due.
Good cookin ...
』
(Perfect rice every time!) 『I bought my wife this cooker for Christmas and she is absolutely crazy about it! She talks about it like it's a movie star. "It's the bomb!" "It's the greatest!"
What she likes, other than perfect rice every time, is that you can make whole meals with it--chicken bogs, rice with celery and peas, what have you. She's very glad she got the larger one.
Another great thing is that it's portable. My wife still maintains a little house next to her elderly parents. She'll cook up something there while she's spending time with them, then grab it by the handle and bring it our house for dinner.
Pay the money. Buy the cooker. Enjoy!』 『This 10-cup Sanyo rice cooker and warmer is micro-computerized with multi-menu selections that allow you to make various kinds of rice. With it (and its fuzzy-logic controls and temperature settings) you can make white rice, rinse-free rice, mixed rice, sweet rice, sprouted brown rice, quick-cooking rice, brown rice and porridge. Use it, too, for steaming or slow-cooking soups and stews. The Sanyo micom rice cooker and warmer has a Titanium-coated, extra-thick, nonstick inner pot with a rounded bottom for maximum heat distribution. The inner pot also features a water fill line for rinse-free rice and sprouted brown rice. After cooking is complete, a Keep Warm function automatically kicks in to keep your dish warm until you're ready to serve. On the front of the Sanyo micom rice cooker and warmer is a clock and timer. The LCD clock and 24-hour, preset timer let you set it and go. The Cook/Reheat button keeps your rice in a keep-warm mode; it can be reheated in about five minutes and served as if it were freshly cooked. Included with your Sanyo micro-computerized rice cooker and warmer is a steaming tray for vegetables, a measuring cup, nonstick spatula and a multi-language instructional manual with recipes. A retractable cord keeps counters neat and the cord out of the way.』
price：$24.01
Zojirushi
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Afternoon tea will never be the same again) 『Great for afternoon tea when I have lots of friends visit me at GardenSpirit Guesthouse (my women's retreat house in NC).
I chose the 4 liter version because I need lots of hot water to brew different kinds of tea in each teapot. It's amazing! When I fill it to the top, it takes a while to reach the temperature selected, but wow, does it ever keep the water hot!
I love the fold down handle so I can take it to the sink (but read the directions - don't fill it directly from the tap. Use a pitcher or measuring cup to pour in cold water).
One thing that confounded me and other friends who tried to use it -- you must first "unlock" the mechanism to operate the dispenser. And you must have the appliance plugged in to unlock and dispense water. The dispenser, by the way, gives a strong stream of water. I don't have to wait and wait to fill up the 6 cup teapots.
I didn't realize that the dispenser would be so handy when guests want to make one cup of tea at a time, too. The water is always hot hot hot!
Oh, even the plug is neat-o. It doesn't snap in all the way, so initially I thought it was defective. Nope. It pushes in only a little, then a magnet holds it tight to make the electrical connection. It's very much like the magsafe plug on my iMac. Here, it's a safety issue, of course. If you forget the appliance is plugged in and pull it toward you, it could tip, spilling that scalding hot water on you or someone you love. The magnet plug instantly releases to prevent serious accidents. Someone was using good sense when they designed this plug.
After doing so much research, I was relieved that I'd made the right choice. The week after mine arrived from Amazon, I saw a three liter version at Costco that looked exactly like the Zojirushi but it was branded with the "Tiger" brand. And it was only $75!!!
I didn't return the 4 -liter (I don't like Amazon's return policies so try to make sure I know what I'm buying before I press "enter") but I did buy Costco's Tiger brand rice cooker, which also looks like the Zojiruashi version. I love it too. Might have to get the $75 - liter version for my own house. What a great product. Hope it "lives" a long long time!』
(amazing stuff) 『I have to say, it is great. I bought it for my mom because she likes to have hot tea in winter. When she visited us, I bought it at Amazon. It arrived just 2 days after ordering. It works very well, now my whole family enjoy having it and now it becomes the most important electrical item that we use every day in our family. Strongly recommend to everyone!』
(Very pleased) 『I purchased the CDWBC40 (4 liter) version. I searched for a boiler that would stand at a preset temperature. This boiler handles that. The fit and finish is pleasing, and I do not detect any hint of plastic taste--which I have detected in a few other boilers and coffee makers. I have used it for drip coffee and press coffee on both the 208 and 195 F settings. I like the flavor at 195 better than at 208. I use light-medium roast coffee, I think the higher temp would be fine with a darker roast. There are a few things buyers should know which I have not seen in the reviews so far. At least one reviewer said it took 15 minutes to reach a boil. With the unit filled with 4 liters of water, it took 35 minutes. Water from our tap is 72-75 F, and we are 1000+ above sea level. It took another 15 minutes to reduce the temperature to 195. The times increased to 45 minutes to boil and 60 minutes to reach 195 when we used filtered water from the refrigerator. I fill the unit at night and plug it in so that I have hot water the next morning for coffee. By the way the instructions are very clear about the time it takes to get your hot water to the correct standing temperature. They also recommend dispensing one cup before using the water as the temperature will be lower than the stand temperature--depending on the time the water has been standing. I found this to be accurate based on a digital probe thermometer. The first cup drawn was below 190; the second cup registered a bit under 195 (at the stand temperature set to 195). I do not see any of this as being negatives for the product. It does seem to be counter to a few of the reviews on this site. With these types of products, I guess it is helpful to let users know what your ambient temperature, altitude, water temperature, and water volume is. I suppose it also would help to know the PPM of the water used. All of these affect boiling temperatures and time to boil. Ambient room temp: 73 F Water Temp: 74 F Water particulates: 119 PPM Altitude: 1023 ft above sea level Barometric pressure: 29.9 The unit instructions state that it is able to change the standing temp at 208 to assure the unit does not continuously boil at higher altitudes. That does not apply at our relatively low altitude.』
(Have a teadrinker in your house? This is perfect.) 『My wife had to stop drinking coffee due to medical reasons, and has since become a huge fan of hot tea. She bought one of these after receiving a gift certificate to a local tea shop that sells them. Here's her review of it:
Before buying this, I would either have to wait for the regular kettle to boil on the stove, or microwave water and check the temp with a thermometer. Definitely not the quickest way to make tea. With this, I always have hot water ready to go. Any time I want tea, I can have it steeping in under a minute. Needless to say, I've been drinking much more tea than I used to. I'm very glad I didn't go with the smaller 3 liter model as I'd be refilling much more often.
As for features, the delay timer is great. I refill the water before I go to bed, set the timer, and have a full pot boiled and ready when I wake up. The dispenser spout is big enough to accomidate a teapot or travel mug, which is nice. The preset temperatures are also a plus as they're almost perfect for different types of tea (208 for rooibos, herbal, and mate'; 195 for black, and 175 for green). I say almost as 175 is a little high for green tea in my opinion, but I just pour the water before I get the tea out so it cools a bit before steeping.
I've had this for approximately six months now, and have used it daily with no problems. The lid completely detaches and it has a carrying handle to help with trips to the sink for refills. I clean it every month or so with white vinegar (leave it soaking overnight, then rinse thoroughly) to remove any scale accumulation. The only bad point I can think of is its high price, but I have to say it's definitely been worth the money I paid for it.』
(The Perfect Solution) 『We are a household of tea drinkers and have used electric kettles for 20 years. This water heater holds and keeps hot enough water for the day without refilling. Love the swivel bottom for ease of use. Many very convenient features.』 『The Micom Water Boiler&Warmer features four keep warm temperature settings; 140°F, 175°F, 195°F and 208°F. Its energy-saving timer function (6-10 hours) automatically turns on the boiler at a later time to save electricity, and the caf drip dispensing mode allows slower dispensing. Other features include one-touch electric dispensing system for easy dispensing and an easy-to-read LCD display that shows actual water temperatures at all times.』
price：$3.99
Decca
Usually ships in 1 to 2 days 『International star Sting has sold millions of albums worldwide, including the original 2006 release of Songs from the Labyrinth which has sold over 250,000 copies in the US alone. On the album, Sting, in collaboration with lutenist Edin Karamazov, interweaves songs, instrumentals and a few short recitations by Elizabethan composer John Dowland, one of England's greatest songwriters. This special bonus edition includes three new tracks: Fields of Gold, Message in a Bottle and Robert Johnson's Have You Seen the Bright Lily Grow. The first two tracks were recorded live in New York in 2006, and the third is a new studio version recorded by Sting in Tuscany in September 2006. According to Classic FM: "it's a must for his fans."』 『International star Sting has sold millions of albums worldwide, including the original 2006 release of Songs from the Labyrinth which has sold over 250,000 copies in the US alone. On the album, Sting, in collaboration with lutenist Edin Karamazov, interweaves songs, instrumentals and a few short recitations by Elizabethan composer John Dowland, one of England's greatest songwriters. This special bonus edition includes three new tracks: 'Fields of Gold', 'Message in a Bottle' and Robert Johnson's 'Have You Seen the Bright Lily Grow'. The first two tracks were recorded live in NY in 2006, and the third is a new studio version recorded by Sting in Tuscany in September 2006. According to Classic FM: It's a must for his fans.』
price：$3.01
Geffen Records
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Headline: HARMONY-LADEN POP-PROG DESTROYS ANGRY MOB OF MATH-ROCK ZOMBIES) 『A perfect collection of Asia's early hits with bassist/vocalist John Wetton. The remastering is superb, and the songs have a punch like never before.
If I were to describe Asia's early sound (1982-1991), I would say that they sounded like a more commercial UK, with the production and ballads of Foreigner, mixed with fierce instrumental breaks and layered with gorgeous Beach Boys-style harmonies on the choruses. The debut album is diamond-solid and near-perfect; later albums got more watered-down and sappy; by 1992 there was different lineups, diversifying the sound and creating a smorgasboard of pop/prog influences.
Lyrics mostly reflected the endless cycles of love lost and found, with occasional forays into Sci-Fi and war. In other words, if you're young (or young at heart), these songs have the ability to really grab you. If they do, it can make you immune to the angry thrashing of those fat and bald 70's prog zealots.
Geffen got the tracklisting right this time (finally...), although they dropped two of the B-sides. The remix of "Go" is okay, but "Daylight" is simply stunning. A song that always reminds me of sunny blue-sky days, travelling or biking. This collection still features semi-crappy New Age cover art (and no Roger Dean painting), but I'll forgive them.
If you're new or unfamiliar with Asia, this is really all you need. If you're hungry or curious for their later world music/classic rock/prog-metal stuff in the 90's, grab Anthology. If you want full albums, start with the 1982 debut.
Note: Early Best Buy copies of this apparently came with a bonus DVD featuring all of Asia's videos from 1982-85 (including "Go", which was not on the Millenium Collection DVD.)』
(As Good as it gets) 『This is as good as ASIA gets! It's everything you remember them to be and better than you thought!Its got a few songs you belt out the words to and some you heard before better never knew were ASIA performing. I recommend this album above all the other compilations ASIA has, you won't be disappointed!』
(Legendary Asia) 『The album arrived promptly and had solid information about the band. I forgot what a unique sound they had and how they blazed on the seen while several other legendary bands were still kicking out hits.
Excellent.』
(What this collection needs is some 21st century Asia hits!) 『All my favorite ASIA songs are here, Heat of the Moment, Only Time Will Tell, Sole Survivor, Wildest Dreams, Here Comes the Feeling, Don't Cry, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, The Heat Goes On, Open Your Eyes, Daylight, Go, Voice of America, Too Late, Wishing and Days Like These. Nice selections!
But, the last track clearly was a marketing ploy. I'd rather have Kari Anne (1990) or even better, some newly recorded songs instead. I hope Wetton, Downes, Palmer and Howe get together in a London recording studio soon and make some new hits.
』
(I Didn't Buy This From Amazon) 『I have to admit this but I didn't buy the cd here. If you look, you can buy this cd that includes a dvd of Asia videos from another source. And at a couple dollars less.
The music and the included dvd makes this collection 3 1/2 stars for me. Without the dvd, it's just another greatest hits collection.』
price：$11.98
Nonesuch
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Shamisen Memories) 『This is a well put together collection of traditional Japanese music. The ensemble are soloists from Ensmble Nipponia, a well-known and distinguished group of performers and composers from Japan who tour the world. In this recording we have two koto players (a six-foot zither), a shakuhachi (a wooden flute),a shamisen (three string banjo), and a biwa (Japanese lute) played and sung by Ayako Handa. There are 8 compositions totalling 45:14 min. The music is a good cross-section of this type of classical sound, with excellent performances all around. If you have never heard traditional Japanese music before, this is a good place to start. A recommended companion recording by the same label and performing group is "Kabuki&Other Traditional Music." For the most part this music is accessible to Western-trained ears, and sets the mood at an Eastern dinner party, or just meditating. Hope you enjoy the album!』
(Relaxing and educational) 『This is my first Japanese music cd and I have to say that it's great for beginners. Inside the cover, there's a little information about Japanese music and the instruments used. It says for example: "The shamisen is a three-stringed instrument whose nearest Western analog is the banjo. It is played with a large ivory plectrum held in the right hand..." They also explain each of the songs and the instruments used in parenthesis. For example # 1: "Kumoi Jishi (shakuhachi) This shakuhachi solo is played on a 2.1 foot instrument, and is characteristic of meditational music..." I didn't know that Japanese music was relaxing. By the middle of the cd, I feel very, very relaxed. Unfortunately, the cd lasts only 45 minutes.』
(A beautiful look into Japanese folk music.) 『Japanaphiles who arent very familiar with Japanese culture, or just starting out, will enjoy the beautiful arrangements and compositions of the Nipponia Ensemble. Using traditional Japanese instruments such as the Shamisen, and the Koto, the ensemble paints vivid musical imagery that is both tragic and beautiful. A must have for those just getting interested in Japanese folk music.』
(A Brilliant Microcosm of Japanese Music) 『This really is one of the best CDs of Japanese music out there. The music is incredible, with virtuosi performances by the Ensemble Nipponia that are talented, inspired, authentic, and approachable. Every track is a wonder to hear. The music itself covers a broad range of different types and moods of Japanese music and features all four of the major musical instruments (clearly identified on the track list on the back), making this CD the perfect crash course in Japan's music for those just beginning to acquaint themselves with it--and of course it's a classic that bears repeated listenings over the years for those whose acquaintance is longer.』
(I like it a lot) 『I have heard Japanese music since very young, and found this to be a good overview for a beginer to Japanese music.』
タイトル『 North India (Varanasi to the Himalayas) [VHS] >
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Lonely Planet Publications
タイトル『 The Philippines [VHS] >
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Video Visits
タイトル『 Japan - from Tokoyo to Taiwan [VHS] >
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Lonely Planet Publications
タイトル『 House of Asia Imports HUK05 Samui 2 light Ambient Floor Lamp, Dark >
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House of Asia Imports
『Manufacturer: House of Asia Imports Style: Contemporary / Modern Type: Ambient Floor Lamps, Finish: Dark Brown Lining: Cotton Light Bulb: (2)13w Spiral Med CFL Description: Crafted from rattan. Wavy, rectangular shaped with red cotton lining.』 タイトル『 Latoscana Asia 85 Vanity 7054P-162 >
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Latoscana
『Overall: 33 1/2" x 19 5/8" x 33 7/8"Black&Red - Glossy Lacquered FinishWenge - Wenge Wood VeneerTwo slow close drawers with Chrome handlesCan be installed as wall mouth or on legs providedHardware includedRequires L1170 Planet 85 lavatory to completeLavatory and faucet not included』 タイトル『 La Toscana 725053 ASIA Low Linen Tower, Glossy Red >
price：$7.99
Eagle Rock Ent
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Must Have For Any Fan...) 『I have loved Asia since their arrival on the scene with their debut album back in 1982. This album was fantastic and the follow-up of Alpha, although not as great, did not disappoint those who wanted a continuation of their first album. I say a continuation because it was nothing ground-breaking, nor was it easy to remember which of the two albums a particular song came from in later years. Their third album, Astra, was a major disappointment to the fans and the band fell apart in 1985.
The band reunited in 1990 with varying line-ups for tours and a couple of studio albums, but nothing could match the magic of the original line-up. Then, when the original band-members came together for the 25 year anniversary show in Tokyo in 2007, I had to buy the CD to hear how the band would do after all this time. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the variations on old-hits of both Asia and some of the bands the members used to belong to. With the exception of "Video Killed The Radio Star" (at least in MY opinion), Asia was a worthy contender for my time and attention.
So, when Asia came to Los Angeles in July of 2009, I had to go see them play and was again thrilled by their sound, but also by the show itself... and to re-capture that memory, I turned to this DVD to bring those memories back alive.
I highly recommend this for any fan of ASIA and most fans of the "progressive rock" genre. While it isn't for everyone, I was quite pleased with it.』
(Grade AAA+) 『I started to hear Prog Rock since I was 13, today I'm 42, and, became, between other bands, a YES,ELP, King Crimson, between other bands, fan. Well, quite frankly, I was with not big expectations about this Show from, ASIA, you know, Howe with some health problems, Downes kind of out of shape, Wetton fat, Palmer with that "short weird hair and looking".... what a mistake !!! Those guys are booming and rocking better than on the begining of their respectives careers, very powerful, technical, keeping control of every little part of every song...Howe vibrating much more than at with YES, Palmer,kindly destroying and dominating the drums, Wetton singing perfectly from the botton to the top notes and Downes, with much more consistency and punch. Definetely , a Blue Ray concert that worth every minute and money that I spent. Prog Roch Forever and hopefully more shows and long life to ASIA !』
(Awful sound mix) 『Totally agree with a previous review about the sound mix on the Blu-ray disc - it's awful. You get 3 options, DTS-HD, Dolby 5.1, and LPCM. Both the DTS-HD and Dolby 5.1 are terrible - you can barely hear the guitar and anytime the keyboard plays it is way louder than all the other instruments. The only way this disc is watchable is by using the LPCM audio option, which doesn't suffer from the bad audio mixing, but still isn't worth paying extra for Blu-ray. Don't know if this is a problem with my player - it's a Panasonic DMP-BD35, but if you're looking for sweet DTS-HD sound, keep looking.』
(Great Show!) 『These guys are aging like fine wine. Wetton still has that clear and dynamic voice. The video and sound are done well and there is not a medicre song on the playlist in my opinion. Especially loved hearing "In the Court of the Crimson King". Amazing group of musicians.』
(Yikes! Sound Mix?!) 『I love ASIA. I loved seeing 'em live and was totally blown away. And, this is a great document of their tour--except for the sound mix! I was excited to hear the DTS-HD Master Audio and totally immerse myself in the band. Problem is, the surround mix just totally immerses you in Geoff Downes! I saw another review online that asks how this mix could've been released. I wonder the same thing myself. What happened?!! It's really like listening to the keys monitor mix. Can't hear Steve much at all, and Carl is a distant mono. Is this a problem with my player? Do I need to update it? Or is this issue with the mix? In any case, it's very disappointing.』
price：$19.99
UTV Motion Pictures
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Excellent movie) 『An outstanding movie. Great depiction of the dark side of fashion world and how people use and throw each other. Priyanka Chopra is a brilliant actor.Arjan Bajwa is not just dashing and cool-looking, he has talents to match.
Most importantly the movie is about redemption and rebirth. Meghna Mathur realizes that she just got lucky due to Shonali and tries to help Shonali. An exhilirating emotional experience!
』
(Magnificent Bollywood's Finest Film.) 『Being a huge Bollywood Fan I can honestly say that, Bollywood has literally out done itself with this Film!!!! The Fashions, the music, the sets, the storyline, and the actresses and actors all magnificent. Buy this one you will not be dissapointed.』
(A Great Film) 『The movie Fashion was very "at the edge of your seat" type of film. Although it was very long, I was still entertained the whole time. The film is about a small town girl Meghna Mathur(Priyanka Chopra)trying to pursue her dream as a supermodel. Meghna's longing ambition and drive for success makes her unreasonable. On her way up the latter of success she encounters a new side of her. This side does not only show her arrogance(Forgetting those who care for her, Affairs, Drinking, Drugs, not showing up for work, etc) it shows her way down the latter. You will be asking whats next.
It is worth the buying, the songs will get stuck in your head.』 『Set against the glittering backdrop of the glamorous but ruthless world of haute couture fashion, this tells the story of one small town girl with a dream and the determination to make it a reality. Meghna Mathur knew in her bones that she was meant to be famous. Ever ambitious and bright with stars in her eyes, even as a girl with conservative parents from a small north Indian town she dared to dream of bright lights and the big city...The world of fashion the clothes, the colors, the make-up. . . all of these form a part of a fascinating world that Meghna's longed to be a part of. Meghna never wanted to compromise on anything on her journey to success as she puts it - whoever said intelligent women couldn't be glamorous?
She reaches the peak of her success and rises to walk the ramps for leading designers across India. The fashion world lies at her feet the parties, the brand endorsements, the photographers, the models, the romance and of course - the shows, the shows, the shows! However karma catches up with Meghna as she slowly starts to pay the price for her fame and her journey to the top.
Her attempt at a comeback was going to be a near impossibility... However she was never a woman to turn away from a challenge...
"Fashion" explores the world of style through the emotional personal journey of the key people that make the industry - the dream-weavers of that elaborate world of glamour: the models, designers, photographers, businessmen, agencies, etc. In the world of image-makers - is it possible to conquer it and remain true to yourself?
This hindi movie turned to be a star in the career of all involved in it... Priyanka Chopra, Mughda Godse, Kangana Ranaut and eve n Madhur Bhandarkar himself. It is known to be one of the best Bollywood films ever made in the history of Indian Cinema.』
price：$2.50
Palm Pictures (Home Entertainment)
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Get a better book...) 『Nothing turns me off like finding out that a book which is marketed as a "true story"-- isn't.
Forget it. If you want to read a NOVEL about horror, corruption and brutality that's written by a truly talented writer, let me recommend Graham Greene's "The Comedians." If on the other hand you don't mind being played for a sucker, read and enjoy this rubbish.』
(Powerful and Brutal!!!) 『I stumbled upon this movie 4 days ago. I found this under movies that Marilyn Manson was in, so I clicked on it and the synopsis. It sounded like it had a really good plot, so I ordered it. It was a really good and interesting movie that dealt with drug addiction, child abuse, and child rape! I probably wouldn't recommend that you watch this with your parents. A drug-addict/hooker named Sarah takes her son, Jeremiah back, but he doesn't like her, so he runs away. Sarah finds him and gets with an abusive guy that rapes and beats Jeremiah. Jeremiah is sent to live with Sarah's God-obsessed parents. After three years, Sarah is back and takes Jeremiah with her again. Sarah soon realizes that if she is going to keep her men, then she cannot say Jeremiah is her son, so she persuades him to cross dressing. (Don't think I'm gay, but I honestly think Jeremiah looked extremely sexy dressed as a girl!) It's too bad that Marilyn Manson only had a 5 minute cameo, because he was really good. Sarah and Jeremiah go into hiding because she thinks everyone is after them. She makes him think that certain foods are poisoned and makes him drink ipecac. Asia Argento, and the Sprouse brothers did an awesome job. Asia also did a great job at directing. If you love child abuse, drugs, and cross dressing kids, you'll love THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS!!!』
(OMG!) 『This movie is really disturbing, and really sad. You feel for the boy. The movie drifts off a bit. And you totaly hate the mother for her behavior/ choices she makes through out the film.』
(The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things) 『I Thought It Was Very Well Thought Of, And Very Well Made, Although Clips Where Cut, Which I Was Quite Frustrated. The Kids Acting in the movie was Excelently well Performed And The Movie Touched Me, because I Went Though Almost The Same Ordeal. My Wife and I Cried,』
(Great Actors, Horrible Film) 『Well, if there is one positive thing to mention about this movie, it's that there are some great actors here and they do a good job with what they are provided. The problem is that the story is boring and it goes nowhere. I understand that some great movies can be about ugly topics, but to become great in this genre, they need to excel. This movie was just one scene after the next of bad things happening, with no real emotion about it all and no point or thought provoked by it. Very disappointing.』 『Based on the novel by the mysterious and controversial JT LeRoy Asia Argento's THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS is a penetrating look at the emotional and physical bonds between mother and son. Argento the daughter of Italian horror king Dario Argento (SUSPIRIA) directed and stars in the film playing Sarah a young woman addicted to sex drugs and danger. The movie opens as she reenters the life of her seven-year-old son Jeremiah (Jimmy Bennett) who has been dragged away from his serene and apparently wonderful foster home to be reunited with his crazy mother. She has no idea how to take care of what is clearly an extraordinary child abusing him psychologically as she allows a string of loser boyfriends (including Michael Pitt John Robinson and Jeremy Sisto) to beat him physically. Sarah disappears for long stretches of time eventually forcing Jeremiah to live with his Bible-thumping grandparents (Peter Fonda and Ornella Muti) who find yet more ways to scar the child. But again and again he winds up back with his deeply troubled mother who is spiraling downward--and bringing Jeremiah with her. Argento who also cowrote the screenplay (with Alessandro Magania) gives a raw powerful courageous performance as Sarah holding nothing back. And the actors who play Jeremiah as he grows up (first Bennett then twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse) are outstanding in very complex roles. The hard-driving soundtrack (which includes Marilyn Manson who plays one of Sarah's boyfriends) matches the fast-paced editing making Argento's labor of love a visual and aural treat even with its difficult imagery and content.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 660200313128 Manufacturer No: PALMDV3131』 『Asia Argento's adaptation of JT Leroy's short story collection,The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, still has the heartbreaking urgency of a tale about child abuse, regardless of Leroy's proven fraudulent identity. Weaving plots together from Leroy's two books,Sarah, andThe Heart Is Deceitful, Argento relays the history of orphaned Jeremiah (Jimmy Bennett/Cole Sprouse), whose mother Sarah (Asia Argento) abandons him as a baby to work as a truck-stop lot lizard for her methamphetamine habit. Sarah tears Jeremiah away from a stable foster home to pathetically attempt mothering her seven-year old son. Jeremiah instantly grows up in strip clubs, drug dealers' homes, big rigs, and in the hot rod that he and his mother call home. His sadomasochistic sexual psychology also develops prematurely, informed by men who rape and beat him, and a mother whose work as a hooker requires Jeremiah's dressing up as a girl to pass as her younger sister. Enter a born again, psychotically zealous Grandfather (Peter Fonda) who takes temporary custody of Jeremiah, and the viewer begins to understand Sarah's severe rebelliousness, sensing that the punk, 23-year old prostitute may be a better parent for Jeremiah, simply because she loves him. Shot by Eric Alan Edwards(Kids, My Own Private Idaho), and with a soundtrack including Sonic Youth, Subhumans, Billy Corgan, and Hasil Adkins, the film has a raunchy, Southern appeal similar to that of Leroy's books. Cameos appearances by Winona Ryder and Marilyn Manson add rock star power. Argento keeps it sexy, as this is as much a story of the mother-child bond as it is about the malformation of a boy's sexual identity. True or not,The Heart is Deceitful Above All Thingsis a sincere yet stylized rendition of a terribly sad story.--Trinie Dalton』
price：$18.00
Gevalia
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Try this tea if you don't like the taste of green tea) 『I had never liked the flavor of green tea but I was trying to drink it because of the health benefits but no matter how much I tried to drink regular green tea, I couldn't get it down because of the taste. So I decided to order this flavor along with their other green tea flavor, Citrus Green, and now I can finally drink and enjoy green tea. I steep the tea for 5 minutes for best flavor.
The cherry flavor is very light, just enough to let you know it is flavored but not so much that it is overwhelming.
I have been drinking both flavors of Gevalia green tea for over 10 years now and I like them so much that I usually ask for them as Christmas gifts from family and friends. 』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Our favorite tea) 『I first tried this tea at Einstein Bros. Bagels, and it is the only tea the we drink now. It has the greatest flavor, and is the finest tea that I have ever tasted. I have offered it to many friends that do not like tea and they have tried it and loved it. We all like it without cream or sugar, the flavors are so rich and vibrant that it easily stands on its own. Harney&Sons even somehow got my boyfriend off of soda, he bought a bunch of different flavors and has them with his meals instead now. They compliment meals very well, and are a wonderful way to start your day and unwind in the evenings.』
(Delicious blend and highly recommended!) 『A wonderful mild blend with a hint of orange flavor. Not a strong, tart orange taste, just a subtle taste and aroma. It has a refreshing flavor and makes for a great afternoon tea.
I have found that most people that I have served this to tend to then want this blend again when they are offered tea by me. It's one of everyone's favorite teas and I highly recommend it! 』 『African Autumn Tea by Harney&Sons is a marriage of herbal Rooibos and Cranberry and Oranges.』
タイトル『 Decorated Mouse Pad with "black and white", Asia, window, Japan, design, geography, architecture >
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price：$9.95
SHOPZEUS
『Professional "Brite White" fabric mouse pads are among the most versatile and durable, providing brilliant graphic reproduction for spot color or full color imprints. This durable polyester surface is above industry standards and provides a superior product value overall. Designed to reproduce vibrant detailed images. Our mouse pads have white fabric top with the 100% genuine black rubber base (not the cheap foam your seen on other advertisements).』 タイトル『 Decorated Mouse Pad with "black and white", Malaysia, dwellings, traditional, architecture, houses, Asia >
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price：$9.95
SHOPZEUS
『Professional "Brite White" fabric mouse pads are among the most versatile and durable, providing brilliant graphic reproduction for spot color or full color imprints. This durable polyester surface is above industry standards and provides a superior product value overall. Designed to reproduce vibrant detailed images. Our mouse pads have white fabric top with the 100% genuine black rubber base (not the cheap foam your seen on other advertisements).』 タイトル『 Decorated Mouse Pad with "black and white", houses, Asia >
『VTM 150 UK - Laptop Power Supply» Step down grounded transformer with a UK Plug.
» Maximum capacity: 150 Watts.
» Converts 220/240V down to 110/120V.
» On/Off Switch
» Fuse Protected.
» Ideal for laptops, Camera batteries, phone chargers, shavers etc. to be used in England, Hong Kong, and countries that use a D-type plug.Weight: 3 lbs.
Dimensions: 4.5" x 2.8" x 2.8"』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Simple for one country) 『If you are going only to continental Europe, or to China, Australia, it is easier to take one (or several) small plug(s) than a super combo gadget. The European plug here has the correct corner edge shape needed for recessed sockets in Switzerland, something to watch for. Gio』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Sticker) 『Be aware the door is plastic and they place a sticker on it that cannot be removed without damaging the plastic. I sure wish I had just returned to Target.』
(Panasonic or Sharp? The Light Made the Difference) 『I've had this microwave for three weeks and am very pleased. I previously owned a Panasonic which performed well but died after 3 years.
I decided on the Sharp based on very good reviews but most of all because of the utility light that turns on when the door is opened and during cooking. The Panasonic was only lighted during cooking; I found it inconvenient to check food "in the dark" when I opened the door.
The door does have a loud, distinct "clunk" upon closing. I find it noticeable but not disturbing.
The Sharp has the utility light, cooks well, has good defrost features, and a very fast (one touch) minute button for cooking. I'm glad I chose the Sharp over the Panasonic.』
(Love it!!) 『I had the older version of this microwave. I owned that for about 8 years and the panel with the digital buttons, numbers burned out. So I could never see what time I programmed in. The door kept getting stuck closed too. For the price and the wear, it is a great product, that is why I chose to buy another one. I have had it for 6 months or so and it is so similar to my other one, I needed no instruction. It is very easy to use, and durable. Very good power for a smallish microwave. Go for it!!』
(Great performer, heats fast, excellent safety, but poor keypad) 『This Sharp microwave oven, with 1 c.f. of total capacity and about 0.8 c.f. of usable capacity (according to Consumer Reports), is a great performer. It heats food quickly and for the most part evenly. The turntable turns automatically and alternates between clockwise and counterclosewise turns. There's a lightbulb inside that lights up when you open the door or when the microwave is operating. The heat output is rated at 1100W, which is usually the power assumed by most microwave heating instructions on food packages - a great convenience.
There was a story I read a few years ago that looked into microwave oven safety, and Sharp came out ahead. So I feel confidend that this microwave oven, assembled in Thailand, should also be one of the safest. Of course, you should keep at least 7 inches away from the oven when its magnetron is generating microwaves, just to be totally safe. One guy complained about the "loud" door; yes, but it's designed to be safe. I'd never trade safety for a flimsy, "easier" door.
The LCD display is always backlit (in green), which is really nice, esp. if you, like I, use the LCD as a clock and also as a timer. (Clock is am-pm-agnostic 12-hour type, while timer has a maximum countdown of 99:99.) The Minute Plus feature is extremely convenience. The keys beep when you press them, but the beep and that "cooking finished" long beep can be turned off easily. You can also invoke a "safe" mode so that the buttons don't work, kind of like a "hold" feature on audio players -- great for families with kids who like to fiddle with appliances.
My only complaint is, like all Asian electronics companies, Sharp pays little attention to the user-friendliness of the unit. The keys all look the same and are about the same size. While they are responsive, sometimes you need to hunt for the keys you want to press. The End and Start keys, in particular, should have been made to stand out. Also, unlike many other Sharp models, this one requires you to press the Power button multiple times instead of just pressing a numeric button to specify a power level. Finally, the reheat/cook button works ridiculously complicated. All these anti-user features detract a full star from an otherwise really excellent appliance.
The all-black finish looks great and the oven fits well under most kitchen cabinets. I do recommend this oven despite the ergonomic issues mentioned above. For me, Sharp microwave ovens' reliability reputation, safety record and Minute Plus convenience are reason enough to recommend them highly.』
(Not so good) 『Cons: The front door closes very loud. All buttons are the same size and too small. Clear and Start buttons are in the middle between the others and the only difference is that they have these words on them. It makes difficult to press these buttons without reading where they are. The "window" on the front door is not sturdy, it is made of a flexible material (some kind of the foil maybe). This was a replacement for my SHARP 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven from 1994 and I am disappointed that they degraded the quality.
Pros: It warms the food fast. 』 『1 CUFT, 1100W, Black, Countertop Microwave, Auto Touch Controls, New Short Cut Options, 12-5/8" Turntable, 6 Cook Options, 6 Reheat Options, 4 Defrost Options.』
『Our Lots to Love Asian newborn is irresistible. She comes with open eyes and pull-up diaper. Her body is made of soft vinyl and ready for love. It is a pleasantly plump collection of posable baby dolls. 10" inch tall, baby powder scented. For age 3 and up. No box comes with this doll. We will send it with a clear envelop.』 タイトル『 FRNT ISO MNT 80-08 RUB MT >
price：$4.76
Greenwillow Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (mayflower) 『My 4-year-old loves this book. It is a very good introduction of Chinese language to little ones.』
(The Pet Dragon) 『This book incorporates traditional Chinese characters in its illustrations to teach young readers how to associate a Chinese character to its meaning. But, it does not show or teach how the Chinese characters are to be pronounced. Still, I think it is a good introduction to Chinese for children who may be interested in exploring ways to learn the language. I bought one for my five year-old son, and another copy for his school library.』
(Excellent!) 『This book is very well done - an excellent and appropriate story with simple, bold but interesting illustrations and I have given it to many of my friends to aide teaching of their young children. Parent and child alike love the book and it is highly effective, even with children as young as 2 years of age! I appreciate too that the story background is Chinese in origin. My only lament is that the book did not also offer Pinyin guidance for non-native Mandarin speakers. I hope there may be additional volumes to come!』
(Great for Kindergarten) 『A great book to read aloud to Kindergarten age kids. Pet Dragon lived up to its reviews...The children learn something and so do the readers, in a very imaginative and amusing manner...』
(Nice book) 『We are trying to teach our 7 and 4 yo Chinese, so this was a fun way to introduce characters.』 『
Meet Lin and her pet dragon!
When the dragon mysteriously disappears, Lin sets off on a journey to find her best friend . . . and readers set off on a journey of learning and discovery.
By ingeniously integrating written Chinese characters into the illustrations as the story progresses, Christoph Niemann has created a book that is engrossing, unique, and memorable.The Pet Dragonis a playful introduction to the fascinating world of Chinese language and culture . . . and a terrific story to share with children everywhere.
You are invited to join Lin for an adventure you will not soon forget!
price：$5.74
Osprey Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Well Suited for the Task) 『The latest volume in Osprey's Duel series covers the intense naval surface actions that occurred between the cruisers of the United States Navy (USN) and the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in the waters around Guadalcanal in late 1942. This is a very interesting and well written study that is particularly well-suited for the Duel format, since it contrasts the development and combat between two equivalent weapon systems in a discrete period of time. Furthermore, the volume is complemented by a number of absolutely stunning photos of these handsome warships, particularly rare photos from the Japanese Yamato museum. In a nutshell, the author walks the reader through how both the USN and IJN designed and developed their cruiser forces and then how they performed against each other in the crucible of combat around Guadalcanal. Overall, I wouldn't say that there is much new or original here that readers familiar with Samuel Elliott Morrison or Richard B Frank wouldn't have seen before, but it is coherent, graphically appealing and serves its purpose well.
The author begins with an 11-page section that discusses the design and development of USN and IJN cruisers in the interwar period. Clearly, the London and Washington Navy Treaties had a huge impact upon the evolution of this weapon system, by limiting cruisers to 10,000 tons displacement and 8-inch guns. Each sides' cruiser doctrine is also discussed in this section, with the Americans conceiving of their cruisers as a multi-purpose scouting force primarily reliant on daytime gunnery, while the IJN based its cruiser doctrine on night-time torpedo attacks. The photos in this section are amazingly good. The 3-page "strategic situation" section is a bit weak, without any map of the theater of operations or order of battle of cruisers involved. Readers lacking background in the Guadalcanal campaign will find this section insufficient. The following 17-page section on technical specifications, briefly describes the characteristics of the main Japanese and US cruisers and includes color plates of the USS San Francisco and the IJN Chokai, as well as color plates on the main weapons on each side. While it is useful to enumerate the basic data on each class of cruiser, this section really makes little effort to compare the salient characteristics of each sides cruisers in head-to-head fashion, which makes it difficult for readers to assess which side had better cruisers. This method has been used in several Duel titles and tends to take up a lot of space without saying very much. This is followed by an 8-page section on US and Japanese cruiser crews, including profiles of RADM Norman Scott and VADM Mikawa.
Unfortunately, this leaves barely 15 pages to cover combat, so the author focuses on only two actions: the Japanese victory at Savo Island on 9 August 1942 and the American tactical victory at Cape Esperance on 11 October 1942. Including maps for each action and the color battle scene, this leaves about 10 pages of text - just enough to get the main details. The author clinically dissects the American mistakes which led to near total disaster at Savo Island and identifies this battle as epitomizing the Japanese cruiser force at the height of its fighting prowess. On the other hand, the American cruisers achieved surprise at Cape Esperance and inflicted a minor defeat on the less well-led Japanese cruisers, indicating that USN performance was rapidly improving. The author makes some great points in this section about how the Japanese were actually better at spotting American warships at night, even though the USN cruisers had radar and the IJN ones didn't (i.e. superior training can defeat superior technology). Also, the US commander failed to appreciate the difference in capabilities between his early SC radars and the improved SG radar, partly due to security issues.
In the analysis section, the author notes that, "Japanese cruiser doctrine and weaponry, and their night fighting skill proved superior during the first part of the Pacific War. The Japanese decision to retain torpedoes aboard their cruisers was proven correct." However, these factors only gave the IJN a tactical advantage which they could not translate into a strategic victory because of eventual US superiority in force generation. The IJN could train great cruiser crews and built tough ships, but they could not do it in the numbers to sustain themselves through an attritional campaign like Guadalcanal. I wish that the author had included the Battle of the Komandorski Islands in March 1943, since it was another rare cruiser-on-cruiser action without airpower, but there was no space. 』 『Although the war in the Pacific is usually considered a carrier war, it was the cruisers that dominated the early fighting. This thrilling duel presents the cruiser clashes during the crucial battles for Guadacanal in 1942, highlighting the Battle of Savo Island on the August 9 and the Battle of Cape Esperance October 11-12th , 1942.』
price：$8.84
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Gorgeous, poetic language--stunning) 『I have been a fan of Katherine Russell Rich's for years. I came upon her writing when I read her amazing memoir THE RED DEVIL. And then I read it again. And again. And again. Each time I read that book I found so much new (to me) in it that it is almost as if I have never read it before. So I eagerly awaited her next book and have now read Dreaming In Hindi 2 times. And I will read it again because like the Red Devil more and more makes itself known, as if revealed in layers, with each reading. This book put me into a gaze, a trance as I rambled along beside Rich throughout her year in India. She was drunk on the culture, in a dreamlike state, and so was I as I turned the pages of this exquisite memoir. Never did I forget that she was surviving a stage 4 breast cancer and living for herself a huge vital life as I was reading even though this fact was only brought up from time to time and the reader not hit over the head with it. Rich weaves her tale gracefully, with literary writing that is surpassed by no one writing today and she makes sentences that sound like no one else. I learned so much about how the brain processes language and learns a new language as well and I loved how she mixes in the scientific with her inner experience of language and change. This book, I cannot shake off, nor do I want to, it has left me in that trance I mentioned before, like a sari scarf drifting across my face.
』
(A hybrid gem) 『DREAMING IN HINDI is a deft, erudite, and beautifully written hybrid of travel memoir and popular science. Its hybridness--or hybridity--seems to make a lot of readers uncomfortable, possibly those who were hoping to find an all-Indian EAT, PRAY, LOVE. But Kathy Rich isn't interested in peddling uplift, unless it's the uplift we feel when we see a really good writer penetrating a closed world, not just a geographical or cultural world, but a cognitive one. Reading DREAMING won't make you a Hindi speaker, but it will make you experience the stutter-step of learning a new language: the long, despairing impasses and the sudden, blinding insights. It will also make you understand the neurophysiological reasons for both. Reading it is like looking at one of those laminated acetate medical charts on whose succeeding levels one can see skin, organs, and skeleton: The effect is thrilling.
Rich's portraits of her instructors, fellow students, hosts, and friends are often funny, occasionally biting, but always humane. Even the characters who are dodgy or demented are engaging.
And just as DREAMING captures the experience of learning a new language, it also renders the strangeness, intoxication, loneliness, fear, and disgust of being immersed in a new culture. I can't think of any immigrant or expat--including immigrants to the U.S.-- who hasn't at one point felt revulsion for his new country and its natives. Such feelings are part of any genuine relationship, and the vigor with which Katherine Russell Rich evokes them suggests that her relationship with India was the real thing. This book certainly is. 』
(When writing memoirs is your occupation, how do you manufacture an interesting experience? Go to India on a lark of course!) 『I first heard of Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich in a New York Times profile article. In this article, Rich describes how hard it is to get Indian Americans to speak to her in Hindi (Answer: most are not proficient in Hindi, only Bollywood Hindustani). I was intrigued with the article and looked up the book. It was just the sort of book I would love to read. I constantly dream of taking up another language (Spanish) but never quite get around to it. Here was a memoir of someone who does and so I bought the book. Unfortunately I didn't like Dreaming in Hindi. It was rather tiresome and poorly written. In retrospect I should have known. After all there was no review of Dreaming in Hindi in the New York Time Book Review. That should have been a red flag right there.
Strangely in a book about Hindi and language (which I assume is the major focus of the book), there is very little discussion of Hindi itself. She tells us occasionally that Hindi is a very beautiful language, but then never really relates how it is beautiful. There is very little discussion of how Hindi personally relates to her. At the end of the book one wonders what the language really did for her. In some sense, the language allowed her to talk to people she might not have talked to otherwise. Then again she seemed to hate everyone she talked to who wasn't already fluent in English to begin with. So what did it get her? For that matter why even choose Hindi at all. Rich is awfully vague about it in the first few chapters. What was her connection to the language? Or even to India. Her only answer for her expedition to India is that it would be a lark (What a lark, what a plunge). This seems rather unbelievable.
Another component of the book was to look at second language acquisition and what it does to our brains. These sections are somewhat interesting but I think poorly written. For one thing she writes so poorly of her experiences of learning Hindi that all of the scientific discussions seem almost like disjointed asides and become uninteresting.
While the language section of the book was an abysmal failure, the actual experience of India part is more interesting. Rich gives us an interesting cast of acquaintances she makes in Udaipur. She has fascinating classmates: there is the adventurous Helaena (Rich kind of likes), the shadowy Whisperer (Rich hates), and the enigmatic Harold (Rich hates). Then there is her host family, a Jain family whom she looks down on. And then there are tons of other people that just show up when they need to. No context is provided for many of them (who they are, how they met). After a while one gets confused about who they all are. It's poorly written but interesting none the less. However if one wants to read about the topic of the Westerner's experience of India, it is perhaps better to look elsewhere. I recommend Ruth Prawer Jhabvala or Rumer Godden's Kingfishers Catch Fire, the latter especially. Although Rich lives in India for several months she remains a constant tourist. She does the usual Rajasthani camel treks and goes on shopping excursions to Jaipur. Then occasionally she exclaims how beautiful India is just to note she didn't totally hate the experience. Interestingly and tellingly, she usually says India is beautiful only when there are no Indians present.
All together I thought the book was inferior, and was a waste of time. The language part didn't come off and the experience of India parts are all tired clichés. If you've read any book about westerners in India, you've read all of this before. What is worse is that the author seems hidden in some sense, which is an odd choice for a memoir. We never really get a sense of who she is before or after the experience. Basic questions like the one I posedearlier are left missing. Why Hindi? Why not French? Or Italian? Rich explains that she wanted a language very different from English. But Hindi is related to English in some way (so what if the verb comes at the end. It does that in German too I think). Why not pick something more unrelated.Why not Japanese? Japanese is completely unrelated to English. I have been pondering this. My guess -and it's a cynical guess- is that living in Europe or Japan may have been too expensive for her (Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame who made a similar language learning expedition to Italy had a large advance from her publisher). Other countries such as ones in the middle east or Africa may have been too unsafe. I think India might have been the only choice. India is relatively safe for westerners and it is really cheap place to travel in. Bingo and you pick Hindi!
Just as baffling is the writing itself. Rich is an editor. Why is the book so poorly written, so disjointed? Surely an editor knows how to write clearly. My guess is that the book was probably rushed to publication to cash in and hoodwink the Eat, Pray, Love crowd. 』
(Very good in spite of itself) 『Let's start by saying I really, really liked this book. If you are interested in India, linguistics or both, it's a must read. But be warned: Ms. Rich's writing style is tricky. She tries very hard for a hip, rather arch style, despite her protestations that she's left her New York self behind. Dropped transitional words and occasional outright grammatical errors mar this story, and distract at first.
About halfway through the book, however, you get used to the style, and then the book starts to sing. While some characters are one-dimensional, others intrigue: Helaena, Ms. Rich's fellow student, is particularly fascinating. (Now if only she'd write a book!) And the linguistic side trips show a good deal of thought and research.
If you are looking for a romanticized version of India a la Eat Pray Love, you won't find it here. Sadly, and possibly due to her writing style, Ms. Rich doesn't seem to think much of the Indians she meets. But for a novel look into one woman's intercultural experience, the book works quite well - in spite of itself. I can even say I didn't want it to end.』
(A hilarious, moving personal memoir of linguistics and language) 『DREAMING IN HINDI: COMING AWAKE IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE tells how Rich took on a writing assignment in India, where she became involved in trying to speak Hindi. Her decision to study the language in India led to a range of experiences of Indian culture, recounted here in a hilarious, moving personal memoir of linguistics and language. Any general lending library as well as college-level libraries strong in linguistics and Indian culture will find this fascinating.』 『Product Description Having miraculously survived a serious illness and now at an impasse in her career as a magazine editor, Rich spontaneously accepted a free-lance writing assignment to go to India, where she found herself thunderstruck by the place and the language. Before she knew it she was on her way to Udaipur, a city in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, in order to learn Hindi.
In this inspirational memoir, Rich documents her experiences in India ranging from the bizarre to the frightening to the unexpectedly exhilarating using Hindi as the lens through which she is given a new perspective not only on India, but on the radical way the country and the language itself were changing her. Fascinated by the process, she went on to interview linguistics experts around the world, reporting back from the frontlines of the science wars on what happens in the brain when we learn a new language. Seamlessly combining Rich's courageous (and often hilarious) personal journey with wideranging reporting,Dreaming in Hindioffers an eye-opening account of what learning a new language can teach us about distant worlds and, ultimately, ourselves.
Personal Photos from Katherine Russell Rich, Author ofDreaming in Hindi (Click on each image below to see a larger view)
Katherine Russell Rich in the Ancient Fort City of Chittogarh
Rajasthani Ektara Player
Katherine Russell Rich in Sari and Bindi
』 『Having miraculously survived a serious illness and now at an impasse in her career as a magazine editor, Rich spontaneously accepted a free-lance writing assignment to go to India, where she found herself thunderstruck by the place and the language. Before she knew it she was on her way to Udaipur, a city in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, in order to learn Hindi.
In this inspirational memoir, Rich documents her experiences in India ranging from the bizarre to the frightening to the unexpectedly exhilarating using Hindi as the lens through which she is given a new perspective not only on India, but on the radical way the country and the language itself were changing her. Fascinated by the process, she went on to interview linguistics experts around the world, reporting back from the frontlines of the science wars on what happens in the brain when we learn a new language. Seamlessly combining Rich s courageous (and often hilarious) personal journey with wideranging reporting, Dreaming in Hindi offers an eye-opening account of what learning a new language can teach us about distant worlds and, ultimately, ourselves.』
『The casual-cool Asia sneaker from Camper will blow you away with its unique style and comfortable design. The subtly pointed toe adds a new spin to the traditional sneak while the contrasting lace-up front spices it up a bit. The funky stripes that flow over the sides add a touch of spunk with its tiny dotted pattern,and the super low-cut collar adds an ultra femme flavor. The padded insole, heel collar, and tongue will set you at ease and take you anywhere you want to go.』 タイトル『 Camper Women's Lace-Up Asia Sneaker >
『 Camper Women's Lace-Up Asia Sneaker >
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Camper
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Very cute, and amazingly comfortable) 『These soft leather shoes are fantastic. I found that they fit true to size and width. They were comfortable from the first day I wore them - I have worn them for very long days on my feet and they never have once started to hurt.
I wouldnt treat these as running shoes, because the soles are on the thin side compared to traditional running shoes, but they are the perfect street shoe. It is especially hard to find black shoes for women that dont look like heavy, unstylish soccer shoes. Surprisingly these manage to be really cute on the foot despite the challenges of being a dark colored gym shoe.』 『The comfortably hip Camper women's Asia sneaker will keep you in casual style. Constructed from tumbled leather, this durable, everyday sneaker also includes a padded collar and insole, a reinforced toe and heel, and a durable rubber sole for perfect grip and long-lasting wear.』 タイトル『 rsvp Asia ZP101 >
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rsvp
『rsvp Asia - rsvp Women's Shoes : Vibrant wedge that will bring your wardrobe to life. ; Suede upper with whip stitching as trim. ; Padded footbed. ; Open toe front. ; Espadrille trim around the footbed and outsole. ; Man-made outsole with rubber tread on the heel. ; 4 1/2 heel. ; Product measurements were taken using size 7. Please note that measurements may vary by size.. Product Type: rsvp Women's Shoes.』 タイトル『 SPEEDO DRV UNIT 73-83 FX >
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